Topics to Be Covered in This Course (Cont.)

Data Structures and Algorithms
Computer modeling is the process of creating an abstract model (including databases, data structures, and algorithms) to simulate the behavior and response of a real-world problem like air transportation system.

For example, a GCD (greatest common divisor) algorithm is given on the right side. Below is the system implemented by using Python, where the % operator is the modulo operation that returns the remainder of a division:
view source
print?
1procedure GCD( int a, int b )
2  repeat
3    gcd = a mod b
4    a = b
5    b = gcd
6  until a mod b == 0
7  return gcd
8end procedure

a =   b =    

           
~/public_html/cgi-bin/101/1/GCD.py (simplified)
view source
print?
01#!/usr/bin/python
02#
03# Python code to demonstrate a naive method
04#   GCD (greatest common divisor) using Euclidean algorithm
05#
06 
07import cgi       # CGI module
08 
09form = cgi.FieldStorage( )     # Reads the HTML form data.
10act  = form["act"].value
11a    = form["a"  ].value
12b    = form["b"  ].value
13 
14if ( act == "Find GCD( a, b )" ):
15  # Print HTML.
16  print( "Content-type: text/html\n\n" )
17  # Command issued:
18  print( "/usr/bin/python GCD.py " + a + " " + b )
19 
20  print( "GCD( " + a + ", " + b + " ) = " )
21  a = int( a )
22  b = int( b )
23  while( b ):
24    a, b = b, a % b
25  print( abs( a ) )

Review: Computer Modeling
Computer modeling is the process of creating an abstract model to simulate the behavior of a real-world problem. Which is NOT included in an abstract model?
      Algorithm
      Data structure
      Database
      Operating system
Result:        




      “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought,    
      but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”    
      ― Albert Einstein